Systems and methods for weld monitoring systems with unknown downtime disabling are described. In some examples, a local monitoring station may perform activity tracking as part of a larger weld monitoring system. A welding device may send welding data to the local monitoring system, which may be used to determine a current activity. A user may also manually input an activity to use as the current activity. If the local monitoring station is unable to determine a current activity from the welding data or user input, then the local monitoring station determines that an unknown downtime has occurred. If the local monitoring station cannot determine a reason for the unknown downtime, the welding device may be disabled until the user provides a reason for the unknown downtime.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The weld monitoring station of claim 1, wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed, further cause the processing circuitry to record the welding data in a data repository, and associate the welding data with the first time period in the data repository.
4. The weld monitoring station of claim 1, wherein the welding device comprises a welding-type power supply, a gas supply, a wire feeder, or a welding torch.
5. The weld monitoring station of claim 1, wherein prompting the welding operator to identify the downtime activity comprises sending a request to a user device associated with the welding operator, via the communication circuitry, or prompting the welding operator via a user interface.
6. The weld monitoring station of claim 1, wherein determining whether there exists a known reason for the threshold amount of time passing comprises checking whether a defined break period, shift change period, maintenance period, quality assurance period, training period, or meeting period overlaps with a second time period beginning at the end of the first time period.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising recording the welding data in a data repository and associating the welding data with the first time period in the data repository.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the welding data comprises data pertaining to operation of a welding-type power supply, a gas supply, a wire feeder, or a welding torch.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein prompting the welding operator to identify the downtime activity comprises sending a request to a user device associated with the welding operator, via the communication circuitry, or prompting the welding operator via a user interface.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether there exists a known reason for the threshold amount of time passing comprises checking whether a break period, shift change period, maintenance period, quality assurance period, training period, or meeting period overlaps with a second time period beginning at the end of the first time period.
13. The method of claim 7, wherein the welding device comprises a welding-type power supply, a gas supply, a wire feeder, or a welding torch.
15. The weld monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the memory circuitry comprises computer readable instructions which, when executed, further cause the processing circuitry to record the welding data in a data repository, and associate the welding data with the first time period in the data repository.
17. The weld monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the welding data comprises data pertaining to operation of a welding-type power supply, a gas supply, a wire feeder, or a welding torch.
18. The weld monitoring system of claim 14, wherein prompting the welding operator to identify the downtime activity comprises sending a request to a user device associated with the welding operator, via the communication circuitry, or prompting the welding operator via a user interface.
19. The weld monitoring system of claim 14, wherein determining whether there exists a known reason for the threshold amount of time passing comprises checking whether a break period, shift change period, maintenance period, quality assurance period, training period, or meeting period overlaps with a second time period beginning at the end of the first time period.
20. The weld monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the welding device comprises a welding-type power supply, a gas supply, a wire feeder, or a welding torch.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 12, 2020
July 23, 2024
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.